Rwanda is one of the rising safari destinations on the African continent. The country has not only worked on its security and road network to ensure that it provides an amazing holiday experience, but it has also gone a step further to market itself through internationally recognized brands such as Arsenal football club.
One of the best ways to explore any country at your own pace is by hiring a car with a driver or self-drive. Though it is not possible to list 100 car rental agencies in Rwanda, self drive in Rwanda is a slowly but surely growing industry and that should not worry you in case you are interested in a self drive trip.
Here are some of the tips to have in mind for planning your self drive in Rwanda trip:
- Book your car rental at least 3 months in advance
- Ensure that your driving license is valid for more than six months
- Ensure that your passport is valid for more than six months
- Keep right
- Book your activities in advance
- Book your accommodation in advance
- Travel during the low season
Book Your Car Rental At Least Three Months In Advance
In order to have some bargaining power, it is recommended that you book your car at least three months in advance. This will also help you negotiate favorable terms, unlike last-minute deals where some of the things you wish to get with the car cannot be offered due to late booking.
Ensure That Your Driving License is Valid For More Than Six Months
Before booking anything else for your trip, ensure that you have a driving license that is at least valid for six months from the date you intend to start your trip. You will likely land in trouble sometimes if you are found driving using a foreign license that is about to expire.
Ensure That Your Passport Is Valid For More Than Six Months
Similar to your driving license, ensure that your passport is at least valid for more than 6 months from the date you intend to start your trip. Sometimes you will not be allowed to enter the country in case your passport is expiring. The common mistake is often to calculate the validity from the date you book the trip instead of looking at the date you intend to start the trip.
Keep right
Rwanda’s neighbors drive on the left. If you have been driving in any country that drive on the left, it is very easy to error and continue driving on the same side even when you are in Rwanda. It is therefore recommended to be vigilant and remember that in Rwanda, they drive on the right. Sometimes you could mistakenly get traffic fines of driving while using a phone that is if you are driving a right-handed car instead of a left-handed car.
Book your activities in advance
It is highly recommended that all primate activities you intend to do in Rwanda are booked in advance. These are gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, and golden monkey tracking. Other monkey tracking activities can easily be booked on the day of tracking.
Book your accommodation in advance
Some locations have limited quality accommodation options. If you intend to get the best accommodation, it is highly recommended to book at least three months in advance to avoid issues of finding lodges fully booked during your intended time of travel.
Travel during the low season
It is highly recommended to plan your trip for the low-season months. That is March to May and November. During this time, you can get huge discounts on self drive in Rwanda car rentals. There are also huge discounts on accommodation.
Self-drive trips in Rwanda are some of the best ways to save on your Rwanda trip. Considering the above tips will help you execute a very nice trip without necessarily breaking the bay.
